Bon voyage: Fireboat Alexander Grantham sails into history as it will be landed at Quarry Bay Park and turned into a gallery.

Fireboat Alexander Grantham has been successfully hoisted and landed at its new permanent home at the Central Concourse of Quarry Bay Park, where it will be converted into a gallery and opened to the public in April, 2007.

Speaking after the lifting operation today, Leisure & Cultural Services Assistant Director for Heritage & Museums Gerard Tsang said lifting a 500-tonne historic boat onto land is the first project of its kind ever conducted in Asia.

Fireboat Alexander Grantham is also the first boat preserved as a historic relic in Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Museum of History's largest 'Made in Hong Kong' collection item, he said.

The landing of the Alexander Grantham marks the end of 50 years of service in the harbour. Perched on Victoria Harbour's waterfront, it will be transformed into a gallery.

Mr Tsang said after the fireboat's installation, construction of the exhibition gallery will begin at full speed with the help of the Architectural Services Department and the Leisure & Cultural Services Department.

A showcase of HK's sea salvage history

Fireboat Alexander Grantham, the largest in the fleet of fireboats, was built by the Hong Kong Whampoa Dock Company Limited in 1953 and decommissioned in May, 2002, after 49 years of service.

Measuring 38.9 metres long, 8.8 metres wide, 15 metres tall and with a loaded displacement of 511 tonnes, it has taken part in numerous fire-fighting and rescue operations, including the Seawise University fire in 1972, the Eastern Gate fire in the 1980s and the New Orient Princess fire in 1993.